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| - If you're looking for an interactive dining experience, it doesn't get much better than sitting around the grill at a Japanese restaurant. Some call it "teppanyaki." Others call it "hibachi." I call it delicious!
I've been to a few teppanyaki restaurants in Vegas and in other cities across the nation, but this was the first time I tried the Osaka in Summerlin. They had a Groupon going, so I bought the deal and hit the grill with my husband. Part of the fun of hibachi dining is getting to meet your neighbors, and our new biker buddy Ed and his family certainly made our experience more interesting! Ed's group had the Groupon, too, so it looks like that deal was a big draw.
My husband had the ribeye, and I had the filet. As per most teppanyaki restaurants, the meals were served with miso soup, a salad, grilled vegetables, and rice (we both ordered it fried). The chef made quite a show slicing and dicing, and while some diners might have been offended by a few of our guy's risqué jokes, they fit right in with us (and Ed!).
The food was on par with other teppanyaki we've had, although the chef was a little heavy handed with the garlic. My husband and I each had a Kirin draft (which was part of the Groupon deal), and we also split a large Sapporo. And it seems like they have a pretty extensive sake menu, if that's your thing.
You know the place is good when you see local celebrities eating there, as was the case here. Frankie Moreno and his crew were at the next table, and in an "only in Vegas moment," Ed's daughter and son-in-law had just happened to have seen Moreno's show at the Smith Center. When they shared that news with the singer, he sent over a bottle of champagne and happily posed for pictures.
Full and happy, we rolled out of the restaurant. Our garlic breath may have lingered a little longer than we wanted, but so will our memories of a fun night with Ed and company. If you try Osaka (and I suggest you do), hopefully your seatmates will be just as colorful and your chef will be a little lighter on the garlic!
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